An unofficial look at China & the Beijing Olympic Games

The Beijing Olympics Blog is place where news and information about the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is gathered, collated and hopefully explained. The purpose of this blog is two fold:

1. To act as a resource for anyone looking for information and discussion on the Beijing Olympics

2. To promote understanding and discussion between East and West, 中国人 and 老外

The Beijing Olympics Blog is effectively a test to see if the above can be achieved, and to see what else comes. It is written from the UK, but relies on news sources from around the world, including media, and individual blogs from inside and outside China. See the BOB blogroll of the best of these.

Of course the Chinese Government will fail. Buddhism will triumph and in the end the Chinese will be forced to see that they are powerless. Once again they are making fools of themselves in front of the world. Pathetic!

Rick McKenna was obviously too early to jump unto conclusion. Buddhism is striving in China, so is the Olympic spirit. China has proven itself to be strong, powerful and prosperous in front of the world. Dalai Lama brings shame to buddism and pathetic people like Rick McKenna follows a liar around and thinks that he has found Buddha. Haha, please give a break. When you find the buddha within, you will know what a fool it is to worship a liar like the Lalai.

It appears that at least one of the two reasons you started you blog is working! I found you and you are a great resource of info on the summer games.

I wanted to share with you that our company Partybluprints.com and Microsoft’s Windows Live Events are promoting a great way to celebrate the Summer Games. It is a Beijing BBQ that you can host at home and invite your guest to feel party of the Olympic spirit.

For anyone looking for a good Olympics/Beijing guide, here’s a great FREE resource with background on Olympics history, Beijing/China, and the Mandarin language. It was EXTREMELY helpful for me: http://www.beijing-travel-guide.com

I was looking for some opinions of foreigners towards the Beijing Olympic games, then I found your blog.
I, as an ordinary chinese, from the bottom of my heart, love my own country. I know my country has some problems, but I can see the improvements everyday.
We seek for harmony and peaceful. I believe if you open your heart, you will see a different China.

Well said Judy. I am a Chinese living abroad, and I see a lot of serious corruptions within the western democratic system too, and these problems are not addressed and dealt with willingly by anyone with the power to do so. All western people get is abuses, and lies about how bad China is. I am happy that China is strong and powerful, and I look forward to the positive influences it gives to the rest of the world.

Wonderful Blog Site!
After watching the breathtaking opening ceremony and seeing examples of the warmth, congeniality, and sportsmanship expressed by the Chinese people during the first few days of the Olympics, all I can say is I am truly impressed.

America and China have many differences in politics, beliefs, culture…, but we also share many things in common. No, I do not personally agree with everything China has done over the years, but I do acknowledge and respect the immense effort she has made over the past decade or so to become more involved in social and world matters. After all, no country is without its dark shadows hiding in the closet.

With these Olympics, China has shown great courage by extending her hand to the entire world and I, for one, am not afraid to reciprocate.

I would really like to see all of the United State’s athletes sing the national anthem, when they are receiving a medal. I don’t think it is too much to ask. I think it is important to the American people.

Too true – what a great way to get all sides of the story! Australians go mad for the Olymipcs but we are all very aware of the problems in China.
There have been some great moments for the Aussies so far, citysearch.com.au has some interesting commentary surroounding our stories.

Hello? ‘We are all very aware of the problems in China’? You are aware because that is what your lying government tells you! I live in this lying country (ie Australia), and I see plenty of problems and abuses in Australia that media is totally silent about. And I know that I am not the only one suffering silently. We need a UN human rights investigation in Australia! When the law does not protect the innocent, and judges makes false evidence to frame innocent party, that is what I call ‘human rights abuse’. And I expect you to agree. And I expect you to take a deep, hard look at how badly the our lying media has been treating us. In the west, people do not believe that moral is a necessary component of power, yet in China people do.

Hi! I am enjoying your blog too– No issue has one side or even 2 sides. I admit my eyes were not open very much to the human rights abuses in China until the Olympic’s placement there. I’ve been learning lots via blogs like yours and by doing other research on the web. I got a general base of knowledge from the nonprofit I work for part-time, IssueLab. They put together a collection of research on China and the Olympics from organizations like Human Rights in China, Human Rights Watch, and US Campaign for Burma, and you can check out all of it (it’s free) here– http://www.issuelab.org/closeup/Aug_2008

My sister, her husband and their children have been living in California for the past 10 years. She enjoyed watching the 2004 Olympics online via the BBC website but this Olympics? No she cannot. NBC have taken over the American airwaves and if you live in the U.S. you absolutely cannot watch the 2008 Olympics except via them. They are actively blocking the BBC’s live video feed so you cannot watch the wonderful, completely unbiased and full service anywhere else except on NBC.

The family only got to see Rebecca Adlington win her 1st gold because a Yank was expected to win that race. Apparently if an American is not expected to win a particular event it does get shown and so far most of NBC’s coverage has been of beach volleyball, followed by some beach volleyball after which they show some more beach volleyball….. If my sister logs onto the official BBC Games site and presses watch video all she gets is a message that says the media cannot be watched in her area! I think we are really lucky in this country.

This is a common complaint, particularly about the TV coverage in the US and Australia. However, be assured that it is a similar story everywhere. The Chinese TV shows few highlights are do not include local athletes winning (though to be fair that is still a lot!). And let’s be fair, the BBC does have a British slant, and doesn’t cover sports like volleyball in which Brits barely compete. A big difference is that if the BBC only showed events where Brits were expected to win, they wouldn’t show that much (tongue in cheek – the results have been outstanding so far!!).

Still, as a Brit who has lived abroad, Bob would agree that the BBC leaves most other broadcasters firmly in the shade in terms of quality and impartiality.

Congratulations the perfection event – 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Olympic spirit, one world, one united, one thinking, fair competition only can find in Olympics. I am proud of with these Olympics, China has shown great courage by extending her hand to the entire world and I, for one, am not afraid to reciprocate. fantastic Beijing, wonderful China.